Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City eased to a 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at the Etihad on Sunday, piling further pressure on United boss Ruben Amorim.
Phil Foden, making his first start of the season, broke the deadlock after 18 minutes, heading home from a Jeremy Doku cross. Haaland then took centre stage, netting a second-half brace — either side of an astonishing miss with the goal gaping — to seal City’s win.
United, who began the derby above City in the table for the first time in five years, offered little threat and were let down by sloppy errors. Gianluigi Donnarumma, on debut for City, produced a stunning save to deny Bryan Mbeumo when the score was 2-0, before Harry Maguire’s poor pass gifted Bernardo Silva the chance to set up Haaland’s third.
The defeat extends Amorim’s dismal Premier League record to eight wins in 31 games, with fans taunting him with chants of “sacked in the morning.” United have taken just four points from their opening four league fixtures and crashed out of the League Cup to fourth-tier Grimsby.
City, meanwhile, bounced back strongly after two consecutive league defeats. They remain six points behind leaders Liverpool, but the win provides a timely lift before clashes with Serie A champions Napoli and title rivals Arsenal.
Before kick-off, both sets of supporters observed a minute’s applause for boxing legend Ricky Hatton, a lifelong City fan who died earlier in the day aged 46. Foden, himself a boyhood City supporter, said the tribute gave the team extra motivation to secure the victory.